Most water damage in Kennesaw comes from inside the house. But the area has real flood history, and the September 2009 floods are the benchmark every local homeowner should know about. Here's what happened, what it means for homes near creeks, and how to check and manage your own flood risk. For cleanup after any kind of water, see our page on water damage restoration in the Kennesaw area.
September 2009: the local benchmark
A stalled weather pattern brought rain to north and central Georgia for about six days, and estimates from the Southeast River Forecast Center showed a narrow band of around 20 inches. The National Weather Service attributes at least ten deaths to the flood, most of them people in vehicles where water crossed roads, and says about 20,000 homes, businesses and other buildings sustained major damage. Seventeen Georgia counties received federal disaster declarations.
| Gauge | Flood stage | September 2009 crest |
|---|---|---|
| Butler Creek at Kennesaw | 12 ft | 14.27 ft |
| Noonday Creek near Woodstock | 10 ft | 19.66 ft |
| Sweetwater Creek at Powder Springs | 13 ft | 31.45 ft |
| Powder Springs Creek | 12 ft | 19.82 ft |
| Sope Creek at Marietta | 12 ft | 18.35 ft |
Source: National Weather Service Peachtree City, "The Epic Floods of 2009."
The Sweetwater Creek basin reached the 500-year flood level, a flood with a 0.2% chance in any given year, and the Chattahoochee River and many tributaries reached the 100-year level.
Noonday Creek and the Kennesaw area
Noonday Creek begins near Kennesaw Mountain and flows about 20 miles past Kennesaw toward Lake Allatoona. In July 2005, rain from Hurricane Dennis pushed it beyond the mapped 100-year floodplain, partly because of upstream development, and many affected residents lacked flood insurance. In 2009 it crested more than nine feet above flood stage near Woodstock and floodwater closed parts of Georgia 92 and Interstate 575. See the Kennesaw Mountain area and Holly Springs pages for more.
How to check your own flood risk
- Look up your address on FEMA's Flood Map Service Center, which shows official flood zones.
- Remember that maps aren't the whole story. The 2005 Noonday Creek flood went beyond the mapped floodplain.
- Walk your lot in a heavy rain and watch where water goes, especially toward the foundation.
- Keep drainage clear. Cobb County maintains only stormwater infrastructure formally dedicated to and accepted by the county, and owners are responsible for the rest. Report stormwater problems to 770-419-6435.
Flood insurance basics
Homeowners policies generally exclude flood, so flood damage is usually covered only by a separate flood policy, such as one through FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program. Most new NFIP policies have a 30-day waiting period, so coverage can't be bought as a storm approaches. If you live near a creek, it's worth a conversation with your agent before the next big rain. See water damage insurance in Georgia.
During and after a flood
- Never drive or walk through floodwater. Most 2009 deaths were in vehicles.
- Stay out of floodwater in the house. The CDC warns it may contain sewage and other contaminants.
- Don't reenter until it's safe. The CDC says to wait until a building inspector has examined a flood-damaged home.
- Photograph everything and start cleanup quickly. See flood damage cleanup.